How to Build a Mini City in the Backyard

To teach your children about planning and organization while trigger their imaginations and having a great time, don't turn to musty books or even DVD's. Gather them in the backyard and show them how to build their own city from common objects.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Identify a safe area of your yard, where your child can play without getting hurt. Clear out any dangerous tools, pesticides or fertilizers.
2. Help your child collect materials and equipment for the city, such as dress-up clothes, cardboard boxes, tarps, twigs, leaves, rocks, buckets and chairs.
3. Work with your child to plan the layout of your city. Use twigs, leaves or rocks to outline your city. Twigs can be lined up to represent streets. Leaves can be mounded to represent hills.
4. Make use of the natural environment. Pretend that trees are tall buildings. Turn bushes into smaller houses.
5. Use large boxes to make tunnels. Turn smaller, tissue boxes into cars and trains.
6. Put water in shallow basins or buckets to create your city's lakes and ponds. If you have a pool or large water feature, pretend it's an ocean. Put tarps over chairs to make mountains.
7. Use twigs and string to make people for your city or invite friends over to explore your city.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a yard, go to a park or other area where children play.
• Don't disturb wildlife or damage plants by breaking off branches.